Privacy Policy for ShikshAQ
Effective Date: November 2025
Last Updated: November 2025
1. Introduction
ShikshAQ ("Platform," "we," "us," "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparent data practices. This Privacy Policy explains how ShikshAQ collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you use our website (https://www.shikshaq.in), services, and related features.
ShikshAQ is operated by NGO AquaTerra, a student-led non-profit organization registered in Kolkata, India. As a platform dedicated to education equity and accessibility, we prioritize your privacy and data security in accordance with applicable Indian data protection laws and international best practices.
This policy applies to all users of ShikshAQ, including students, parents/guardians, educators, and tutors ("Users"). By accessing and using ShikshAQ, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information Provided Directly by Users
For Students and Parents:
Name, age/date of birth, gender, and contact information (email address, phone number)
Educational board (CBSE, ICSE, State Board, IGCSE, IB, Cambridge)
Class/grade level
Subjects requiring tutoring
Geographic location and area/locality preferences
Types of tuition required (online, offline, or hybrid)
Specific requirements (competitive exam preparation, doubt-solving, mentorship)
Payment/billing information (if applicable for future premium services)
Communication preferences
For Tutors and Educators:
Full name, date of birth, gender, and contact information (email, phone, WhatsApp)
Educational qualifications and credentials (degree, certification, subject expertise)
Teaching experience and background
Subjects and boards they teach
Geographic areas where they offer tuition
Preferred teaching modes (online, offline, hybrid)
Availability and scheduling preferences
Bank account details (if payment processing is implemented)
Identification documents for verification purposes (Aadhaar, PAN, or equivalent)
Profile description and teaching philosophy
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
IP Address and Device Information: We collect your IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers for platform security and analytics
Usage Data: Information about how you interact with the platform, including pages visited, time spent, clicks, searches, and features used
Cookies and Tracking: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience and understand platform usage patterns
Location Data: Approximate location information derived from IP addresses or user preferences (not precise GPS tracking)
2.3 Information from Third Parties
Verification Sources: Educational background and credential verification through educational institutions (with user consent)
Payment Processors: If integrated in future, transaction information from payment service providers
Referral Sources: Information from users who refer other users to the platform
3. How We Use Your Information
3.1 Primary Use Cases
For Students and Parents:
Facilitating connection with qualified tutors matching specified criteria (subject, board, location, teaching mode)
Displaying your search preferences to relevant tutors
Sending updates about tutor profiles matching your requirements
Providing customer support and resolving queries
Verifying educational requirements and qualifications
Improving platform features and user experience
For Tutors and Educators:
Making tutor profiles visible to students searching for specific subjects and boards
Receiving inquiries from interested students
Managing schedules and availability on the platform
Processing verification and credential validation
Providing platform support and addressing concerns
Enhancing tutor discovery algorithms and matching
3.2 Secondary Use Cases
Platform Improvement: Analyzing usage patterns to enhance user experience, improve search functionality, and develop new features
Research and Analytics: Aggregated, non-identifiable data for educational research and impact assessment
Communication: Sending service updates, policy changes, security alerts, and platform announcements
Safety and Compliance: Detecting, investigating, and preventing fraudulent activity, policy violations, and misuse
Legal Compliance: Fulfilling legal obligations and responding to authorized government requests
3.3 Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data based on:
Consent: You have explicitly consented to the processing when registering on the platform
Contractual Necessity: Processing is required to facilitate tutor-student connections as per the service terms
Legal Obligation: We must comply with applicable Indian laws and regulations
Legitimate Interest: We have a legitimate interest in improving platform security, preventing fraud, and enhancing user experience
4. Data Security and Protection
4.1 Security Measures
ShikshAQ implements comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information:
Encryption: All data transmitted between your device and our servers uses HTTPS/SSL encryption
Access Controls: Personal information is accessible only to authorized personnel who need it for their job functions
Authentication: Strong password requirements and secure login mechanisms prevent unauthorized access
Regular Audits: We conduct periodic security assessments and vulnerability testing
Secure Storage: Personal information is stored on secure servers with restricted physical access
Data Backup: We maintain encrypted backups to prevent data loss
4.2 Limitations of Security
While we employ industry-standard security measures, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. ShikshAQ cannot guarantee absolute security, and users use the platform at their own risk. We encourage users to maintain strong passwords and enable multi-factor authentication where available.
4.3 Breach Notification
In the event of a confirmed data breach affecting personal information, ShikshAQ will:
Notify affected users without unreasonable delay
Provide information about the nature of the breach and measures being taken
Advise on steps users can take to protect themselves
Comply with all applicable notification requirements under Indian law
5. Data Retention
5.1 Retention Periods
Active Users:
Personal information is retained for the duration of your account being active on ShikshAQ
Profile data remains visible to other users as long as the profile is active
Inactive Accounts:
If an account remains inactive for 24 consecutive months, we may archive the data
Users will receive a notification before archiving, with an opportunity to reactivate
Deleted Accounts:
Upon account deletion request, we remove most personal information within 30 days
Some information may be retained for legal compliance, fraud prevention, or legitimate business purposes
Archived data will be permanently deleted after 12 months (unless legal obligations require longer retention)
Transactional Records:
Payment and transaction records are retained for 7 years for financial and legal compliance purposes
Communication logs may be retained for 2 years for dispute resolution and service improvement
5.2 Data Minimization
We retain only the personal information necessary to provide services and fulfill our legal obligations. Information that is no longer required is securely deleted or anonymized.
6. User Rights and Data Access
6.1 Your Rights
As a user, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Right to Access: You can request access to all personal information we hold about you. Submit a written request to privacy@ngoaquaterra.com, and we will provide a copy within 14 days.
Right to Correction: If your personal information is inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated, you can request correction. You can also update most information directly in your account settings.
Right to Deletion: You can request deletion of your account and associated personal information, subject to legal retention obligations. Some information may be retained for compliance purposes.
Right to Data Portability: You can request your personal data in a portable, machine-readable format to transfer to another service.
Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we limit how we use your personal information for specific purposes.
Right to Withdraw Consent: You can withdraw consent for specific data processing activities at any time, though this may affect service availability.
Right to Lodge a Complaint: You have the right to file a complaint with the appropriate data protection authority if you believe your rights have been violated.
6.2 Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, contact ShikshAQ at:
Email: privacy@ngoaquaterra.com
Mailing Address: NGO AquaTerra, Kolkata, India
Contact Form: https://www.shikshaq.in/contact
We will respond to requests within 30 days and may request verification of identity to process sensitive requests.
7. Information Sharing and Disclosure
7.1 Public Profile Information
For Tutors:
Your public profile (name, subjects taught, boards, areas covered, qualifications, teaching mode) is visible to all students searching for tutors
This information is searchable and may be indexed by search engines
Students can view your profile to decide whether to contact you
For Students:
Your profile information is visible only to tutors you have contacted or who have sent you inquiries
We do not display student contact information publicly
7.2 Third-Party Sharing
ShikshAQ does NOT sell, rent, or trade personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
We may share information in the following limited circumstances:
Service Providers:
Payment processors (if payment features are implemented)
Cloud storage and hosting providers
Analytics and monitoring services
These providers are contractually bound to protect your data and use it only for specified purposes
Legal Requirements:
Law enforcement agencies, courts, or government authorities when required by law or valid legal process
Compliance with court orders, subpoenas, or other legal instruments
Business Transfers:
In case of merger, acquisition, or sale of NGO AquaTerra's assets, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction (you will be notified of any such change)
Fraud and Safety:
When necessary to prevent, detect, investigate, or address fraud, security issues, or other harmful activities
To protect the rights, property, and safety of ShikshAQ, our users, and the public
With Explicit Consent:
We may share information with third parties only with your explicit, informed consent
7.3 Information NOT Shared
We do not share payment information with tutors or students
We do not share identities of inquiring parties without their knowledge
We do not share medical or sensitive personal information collected incidentally
We do not share data for commercial advertising or marketing purposes
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
8.1 Cookie Usage
ShikshAQ uses cookies and similar technologies to:
Remember user preferences and login information
Analyze platform usage and user behavior
Improve website functionality and user experience
Detect and prevent fraudulent activity
Track campaign performance and referral sources
8.2 Types of Cookies
Necessary Cookies:
Essential for platform functionality (login, session management)
Cannot be disabled without affecting service availability
Preference Cookies:
Remember your language, location, and display preferences
Enhance personalized user experience
Analytics Cookies:
Track anonymous usage statistics and platform performance
Help us understand which features are most valuable to users
Marketing Cookies:
Track referral sources and campaign effectiveness
Do NOT track across unrelated third-party websites
8.3 Cookie Management
You can control cookies through your browser settings:
Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being set
Disabling cookies may affect some platform functionality
Clearing cookies will require you to re-login to ShikshAQ
8.4 Do Not Track
If your browser sends a "Do Not Track" signal, ShikshAQ respects this preference and limits analytics tracking accordingly.
9. Third-Party Links and Services
ShikshAQ may contain links to external websites and services operated by third parties (educational websites, exam preparation sites, etc.). This Privacy Policy applies only to ShikshAQ and does not cover third-party websites.
We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party services before sharing personal information. ShikshAQ is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites.
10. Children's Privacy
10.1 Age Restrictions
ShikshAQ is intended for users aged 13 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
10.2 Parental Consent
If a student is under 18 years old, we require parental or guardian consent for account creation and data processing. Parents/guardians have the right to:
Access their child's personal information
Request correction or deletion of the child's data
Withdraw consent for data processing at any time
10.3 Protection of Minors
We implement additional protections for users under 18
Parents/guardians can request to be included in their child's account for monitoring
We do not use children's data for targeted marketing
11. International Data Transfers
ShikshAQ is based in India and operates primarily for Indian users. Personal information is stored and processed in India and may be transferred to secure servers within India or, with appropriate safeguards, to other countries for backup and disaster recovery purposes.
If we transfer data internationally, we implement appropriate safeguards including:
Standard contractual clauses approved by relevant authorities
Adequacy decisions recognizing equivalent privacy protections
Your explicit consent where required
12. Contact Information and Requests
For any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, please contact:
NGO AquaTerra
Email: privacy@ngoaquaterra.com
Support Email: support@shikshaq.in
Website: https://www.shikshaq.in
Contact Form: https://www.shikshaq.in/contact
Mailing Address: NGO AquaTerra, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Data Protection Officer:
Email: dpo@ngoaquaterra.com
We will respond to privacy inquiries within 14-30 days.
13. Policy Updates and Changes
13.1 Modifications
ShikshAQ may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will:
Post the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date
Send email notifications for material changes
Request explicit consent if changes affect how we process personal information
13.2 Continued Use
Your continued use of ShikshAQ following notification of changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with changes, you may delete your account.
14. Specific Considerations for ShikshAQ Users
14.1 Tutor-Student Communication
Direct communication between tutors and students occurs outside the platform (via phone, email, WhatsApp)
ShikshAQ is not responsible for information shared in direct communications
We recommend users exercise caution when sharing personal contact information
Report any harassment or inappropriate conduct to support@shikshaq.in
14.2 Verification Process
Tutors must provide identification and qualification documents for verification
This information is used only for verification purposes and kept confidential
Verification does not constitute endorsement or guarantee of quality
14.3 User Responsibility
Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their account credentials
Users should not share passwords with others
Report unauthorized account access immediately to support@shikshaq.in
Users are responsible for information they provide to other users
14.4 Sensitive Information
Users should NOT share:
Complete financial information (bank account numbers, credit card details)
Sensitive health information
Social Security Numbers or Aadhaar numbers (except for verified account creation)
Passwords or security questions
ShikshAQ will never ask for sensitive information via email or unsecured communication.
15. Legal Compliance
15.1 Applicable Laws
This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, including:
Indian Penal Code
Information Technology Act, 2000
Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (as applicable)
General data protection principles recognized under Indian law
15.2 Dispute Resolution
Any disputes arising from this Privacy Policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
16. Special Provisions
16.1 NGO Operations
As a non-profit organization, NGO AquaTerra may:
Use aggregated, anonymized data for impact assessment and research
Share statistics about educational access with donors and stakeholders
Publish case studies with explicit consent and anonymization
Collaborate with educational researchers to improve platform effectiveness
16.2 No Commercial Exploitation
ShikshAQ is operated as a social initiative. We commit to:
Never selling personal data to commercial entities
Never using platform data for targeted commercial advertising
Never profiling users for discriminatory purposes
Maintaining data practices aligned with our non-profit mission
16.3 Transparency Reports
ShikshAQ will publish transparency reports annually, documenting:
Number of data access requests received
Data breaches, if any
Platform usage statistics (aggregated)
Changes to privacy practices
17. Acknowledgment and Consent
By creating an account on ShikshAQ and using our platform, you acknowledge that:
You have read and understood this Privacy Policy
You consent to the collection, use, and processing of your personal information as described
You understand the implications of sharing information on a platform connecting tutors and students
You agree to take reasonable steps to protect your account security
18. Severability
If any provision of this Privacy Policy is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. Any invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
End of Privacy Policy
